The 7 Cheapest Meal Delivery Services of 2024

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Struggling to get healthy meals on the dinner table each night? Between planning, shopping and cooking, it can be a really time-consuming task. However, meal delivery services can help you streamline mealtime.

These services deliver meal kits consisting of recipes and the ingredients you need to cook them or pre-prepared meals right to your door each week. They can save time, add some much-needed variety to your meal routine and even give your dinners a healthy makeover. If you’re hitting the drive-through regularly, they may also help you save money.

I’m a registered dietitian and I have tried almost every meal delivery service on the market today. Using my first-hand experiences, I’ve assembled this list of the best cheap meal delivery services of 2024.

This content is meant to be informative, but should not be taken as medical advice. It is not intended for use as diagnosis, prevention or treatment of health problems. Always speak with your doctor before starting any new supplement or exercise regimen.

Our Picks for Cheapest Meal Delivery Service:

• Best Overall Cheapest Meal Delivery Service: Blue Apron
• Best Cheapest Meal Kit Delivery Service: EveryPlate
• Best Cheapest Meal Delivery Service For Weight Loss: Nutrisystem
• Cheapest Meal Delivery Service For Keto Diets: Green Chef
• Cheapest Meal Delivery Service For Vegans: Purple Carrot
• Cheapest Meal Delivery Service For Prepared Meals: Dinnerly
• Cheapest Meal Delivery Service For Singles: HelloFresh

Best Overall Cheapest Meal Delivery Service: Blue Apron

Key Features and Specs:

• Recipes per week: 16
• Certifications: N/A
• Subscription: weekly delivery; two to five meals with two or four servings each
• Best for: two-person households, households who want a balance between affordable and healthy
• Price per serving: $7.99-$12.49

Blue Apron is an affordable meal kit delivery service with prices that start at just $7.99 per serving. They top our list because of their unique recipes that feature fresh, healthy ingredients— along with their affordability. Their Signature for Two plan offers roughly 15-20 choices each week, but they also offer Vegetarian for Two, Wellness for Two and Signature for Four plans. In addition, they offer add-ons and a wine subscription service that can tailor wine pairings for your meals.

Some sample meals include Peanut Chicken & Quinoa Salad with Avocado & Sesame Dressing and Mafalda Pasta & Shrimp with Tomatoes, Zucchini & Parmesan. Reviewers love the convenience and variety of Blue Apron, but some say that they have occasional issues with delivery or ingredient quality.

Blue Apron is a great fit for two-person households since they offer a wide selection of meals for two. However, their vegetarian options are fairly limited and they don’t offer strictly vegan or gluten-free options.

What we like:

• Several meal options each week
• Plans for vegetarians, health-conscious eaters and four-person households
• Recipes prioritize fresh produce

What to consider:

• Some occasional shipping/ingredient complaints from customers
• No vegan or gluten-free options

Best Cheapest Meal Kit Delivery Service: EveryPlate

Key Features and Specs:

• Recipes per week: 26
• Certifications: N/A
• Subscription: weekly delivery; three to six meals with two or four servings each
• Best for: families on a limited budget, families with picky eaters
• Price per serving: $4.99-$7.49

EveryPlate is the least expensive meal kit delivery service available, making it ideal for families on a budget who still value the convenience of a meal kit. Their menu features roughly 25-30 simple, family-friendly meals each week for households with no specific dietary needs.

Some examples of recent meals include Creamy Smothered Pork Chops with Roasted Broccoli & Mashed Potatoes and Caramelized Mushroom & Tomato Flatbreads. Most reviewers are very happy with EveryPlate, although some say that they occasionally receive bad produce in their box.

In addition to being budget-friendly, EveryPlate also offers familiar “comfort-food” meals—making the service a great fit for families with picky eaters. However, they don’t offer any vegan or gluten-free options so it’s not a good option for people with dietary restrictions.

What we like:

• Meals starting at $4.99
• Ideal for kids and picky eaters
• Over 25 menu options each week

What to consider:

• No vegan or gluten-free options
• Some complaints of bad produce in boxes

Best Cheapest Meal Delivery Service For Weight Loss: Nutrisystem

Key Features and Specs:

• Recipes per week: 100+
• Certifications: N/A
• Subscription: monthly delivery; three meals and one snack per day for individuals or couples
• Best for: people who are trying to lose weight, people who don’t have time to cook
• Price per serving: $2.68-$3.92

Nutrisystem is a comprehensive weight loss meal delivery service that includes low-calorie meals for an individual. They provide most meals and snacks that you’ll need during the program, so the cost—which starts at about $10.71 per day—breaks down to a very affordable amount per meal. Still, the total cost per month starts around $200. They offer specific plans for men, women, people with diabetes and people over 55 years old. In addition, they offer a partner plan for couples.

Some of Nutrisystem’s options include Caramelized Onion, Mushroom and Turkey Sausage Pizza and White Cheddar Mac and Cheese. Their meals and snacks are either frozen or shelf stable, but require zero prep other than heating—with the exception of smoothies or protein shakes that may need to be mixed with liquid.

However, although they can be very helpful for weight loss according to reviewers, the meals are low in veggies and highly processed. Highly-processed food has been linked to several poor health outcomes, including digestive issues, type 2 diabetes, depression and heart disease. Additionally, because these meals are for individuals (or their partner plan for two), Nutrisystem may not be a good solution for families of three or more.

Check out our Nutrisystem Review for more information.

What we like:

• Prices start at $10.71 for a full day’s worth of food
• Minimal prep required
• Reviewers report weight loss success

What to consider:

• Highly processed
• Not a good fit for households of three or more

SI Readers can take $30 off their first month of Nutrisystem

Cheapest Meal Delivery Service For Keto Diets: Green Chef

Key Features and Specs:

• Recipes per week: 40+
• Certifications: CCOF-Certified Organic, USDA Organic
• Subscription: weekly delivery; three or four meals per week for two, four or six people
• Best for: people who follow keto, gluten-free or vegan diets; families who prefer organic food
• Price per serving: $11.99-$13.49

Green Chef is a traditional meal kit that specializes in high-quality organic ingredients and caters to specialty diets such as keto, paleo, vegan and gluten-free. Naturally, this focus on high-quality ingredients means that their prices are higher than other meal kit services. Still, their prices are fair and competitive for what they offer.

Some of their recent meals include Fig & Prosciutto Pita Pizzas and Peruvian Chicken with Aji Verde. Reviewers also love Green Chef. It’s one of the only meal kits available that caters to keto and paleo diets and that offers organic ingredients.

Note that occasionally Green Chef may need to substitute some non-organic ingredients in your box, depending on availability. All of these will be clearly labeled.

For more information, check out our in-depth Green Chef review.

What we like:

• Certified organic
• Offers paleo, keto, gluten-free and vegan options
• Highly rated by reviewers

What to consider:

• More expensive than other meal kit services
• May occasionally include non-organic ingredients

Cheapest Meal Delivery Service For Vegans: Purple Carrot

Key Features and Specs:

• Recipes per week: 25+
• Certifications: vegan
• Subscription: weekly delivery; three or four meals with two or three servings each or six, eight or 10 individual heat-and-eat meals
• Best for: households following a vegan diet, individuals who eat plant-based
• Price per serving: $11.00-$13.25

Purple Carrot is an exclusively plant-based meal kit service that offers both traditional meal kits and ready-to-heat meals, making it a good choice for vegan families and individuals alike. They also offer a large variety of meals from different cuisines on their weekly menu, so you’re sure to find meals that suit your tastes.

Some of their most recent selections include Almond Butter Tofu Bowls with Charred Zucchini & Bok Choy and Crispy Black Bean Tacos with Chipotle-Mango Aioli & Blistered Tomato Salad. Overall, the service has great reviews from customers, although many say that some of their produce items regularly arrive in poor condition.

Purple Carrot is unique among meal kits for its exclusively plant-based meals, so it’s a great option for vegans who are concerned about potential cross-contamination with animal-based ingredients. They also offer several gluten-free options each week. Still, it may not be a good fit for families with picky eaters because the recipes tend to feature bold, regional flavors.

What we like:

• Fully vegan
• Offers meal kits and heat-and-eat meals
• Over 25 options each week

What to consider:

• Some produce may arrive in poor condition
• May not be a good fit for picky eaters

Cheapest Meal Delivery Service For Prepared Meals: Dinnerly

Key Features and Specs:

• Recipes per week: 100+
• Certifications: N/A
• Subscription: weekly delivery, two to six meals with two or four servings each
• Best for: families on a budget, people who like variety in their meals
• Price per serving: $4.99-$8.04

Dinnerly, like Every Plate, is a budget meal delivery service with meals starting at just $4.99 per serving. However, they have a huge catalog of weekly options, including several that require minimal prep. This makes Dinnerly a better fit for families on a budget who also need meals that come together quickly.

Some of their recent menu options include No Chop! Low-Cal Chorizo Tacos and Ready Made! Cheesy Chicken Penne Alfredo. Many reviewers love the variety that Dinnerly provides, but they do say that occasionally produce arrives in bad shape.

Overall, the sheer variety of Dinnerly—along with its low price—makes it a great fit for most families without special dietary needs. They even offer some low-carb and dairy-free meals. However, they don’t offer vegan or gluten-free options.

What we like:

• Over 100 menu choices each week
• Meals starting at $4.99 per serving
• Several low-prep meal options

What to consider:

• Some produce may arrive in poor condition
• No vegan or gluten-free options

Cheapest Meal Delivery Service For Singles: HelloFresh

Key Features and Specs:

• Recipes per week: 75
• Certifications: N/A
• Subscription: weekly delivery; two to six meals with two or four servings each
• Best for: individuals who want home-cooked meals, families with no specific dietary needs
• Price per serving: $8.99-$12.49

HelloFresh is one of the most well-known meal kit delivery services. They offer a wide variety of meals each week, including crowd-pleasing choices and more unique dishes. For singles, a two-serving plan provides a dinner and one serving worth of leftovers for lunch the next day. It can save a lot of money compared to dining out for lunch and dinner.

Recently, their menu has featured items like Mushroom & Herb Shepherd’s Pie Topped with White Cheddar Mashed Potatoes and Soy Glazed Chicken & Scallion Broccoli. Other than occasional shipping issues, reviewers rate HelloFresh highly—with many saying that they cook at home much more since starting their HelloFresh subscription.

Although HelloFresh does offer some vegetarian and pescatarian meals each week, they don’t have options for other specialty diets like vegan, keto or gluten-free.

What we like:

• Good for individuals or families
• Large selection of meals each week
• Highly rated by customers

What to consider:

• No options for specialty diets

What Is a Meal Delivery Service?

Meal delivery services are companies that ship prepared meals or meal kits to your doorstep each week.

They’ve grown extremely popular since they can help you save time on grocery shopping and they also save money when compared to restaurants or take-out.

There are several different meal delivery services to suit nearly all budgets and diet preferences.

Benefits of Using a Meal Delivery Service

Meal delivery services are convenient and they can help you save time and money. They also may help you incorporate healthier meals into your routine and they can add some variety if you find yourself in a cooking rut.

By eliminating the need to meal plan and grocery shop, meal delivery services provide convenience and save lots of time. Even if you choose a meal kit that requires you to prep and cook the ingredients, you may still save a couple of hours each week of planning and shopping.

If you find yourself eating out or ordering out regularly, meal delivery companies could also help you save money. Although they’re more expensive than grocery shopping generally, they’re also typically less expensive than restaurant meals.

Many meal delivery services also feature well-balanced, nutritious meals that prioritize fresh produce and healthy protein sources. They can be a good way to introduce your family to healthier meals.

Finally, meal kit services often feature large selections of meals from different types of cuisine. They can add some much-needed variety if your dinners have been feeling stale.

Meal Delivery Services vs. Meal Kits

There are two different types of meal delivery services: prepared meal delivery and meal kit delivery.

Prepared meal delivery services send single-serving meals that are completely cooked. They only require reheating and they may be sent fresh or frozen. These services often cater to individuals rather than families and they’re a great option for people who are too busy to cook or who need an easy option for work lunches.

Meal kits, on the other hand, consist of weekly shipments of recipe cards and all the corresponding ingredients to cook those recipes. Although you will still need to set aside time to cook the meals, they can still save time because you don’t have to meal plan or grocery shop.

How to Choose the Best Cheap Meal Delivery Service for You

There are five main factors to consider when choosing the best affordable meal delivery service for your household.

First, you’ll need to decide if you want prepared meals or meal kits. For individuals, prepared meals may be more convenient, but meal kits are often a better choice for families.

Next, you’ll want to decide on your budget. Meal kits range in price from roughly $5 to $15 per serving, but most of them fall into the $8 to $12 range.

Then you’ll want to consider food quality and dietary needs. Families who follow specific diets like gluten-free, vegan or keto will need to choose meal delivery services like Purple Carrot or Green Chef, which are more expensive than some others. Additionally, if you eat organic that will limit your options as well. Only Green Chef offers exclusively organic meal kits.

Finally, you should review the menu before you sign up and make sure that there are plenty of options that you and the other members of your household will enjoy.

What to Avoid in a Cheap Meal Delivery Service

When choosing a meal delivery service, what to avoid really comes down to your personal preferences and budget. What’s affordable to one family may be too expensive for another, so it’s important to consider your budget and avoid meal kits that won’t comfortably fit within it.

Additionally, you’ll want to avoid meal delivery services that aren’t a good fit for your family’s dietary needs or that don’t offer meals your family likes. Fortunately, you can view the menu for all of these services on their websites before signing up.

Our Methodology: How We Chose the Cheapest Meal Delivery Service

In my time as a registered dietitian and product reviewer, I’ve had the opportunity to try several different meal kits. In fact, I have tested all of the services on this list for myself, in addition to several others. We were able to use my first-hand experiences to help guide our decisions for the best cheap meal delivery. Additionally, we considered price per serving, specialty diets and customer reviews to ensure that we included highly-rated meal kits that offered affordable options for people with many different dietary needs and preferences.

Cheapest Meal Delivery Service FAQs

How do meal delivery services work?

Meal delivery services are weekly subscriptions that send pre-prepared meals or meal kits with recipes and ingredients to your door each week. Some, like Nutrisystem, send monthly shipments.

Do cheap meal delivery services actually save you money?

Although meal delivery is more expensive than purchasing your own groceries, they can be a cost-saving option if you’re currently dining out or getting take-out regularly.

How much do meal delivery services usually cost?

Meal delivery services are available at a wide range of prices. Many of them cost around eight to ten dollars per serving, but they can range from five to fifteen dollars per serving.

Are meal delivery services good for athletes?

Meal delivery services can be a good fit for athletes, depending on their unique nutrition needs. Typically, athletes need to prioritize protein intake and may need to time their carbohydrate intake around athletic events. Most meal delivery services feature protein-rich meal options and you can adjust the size of your carbohydrate serving if needed.

Takeaway: Are Cheap Meal Delivery Services Worth It?

Cheap meal delivery services can save your family hours each week. Although they are typically more expensive than grocery store prices, there are several affordable options that can save money compared to regular dining out.

Be sure to choose a meal kit that fits within your budget, is a good fit for your dietary needs and contains plenty of options that your household enjoys.

Prices are accurate and items in stock as of publish time.